Led Zeppelin are one of the most influential bands in the history of rock, a group that helped invent hard rock and heavy metal in the 1970s. Formed in London in 1968, they brought together guitarist Jimmy Page, singer Robert Plant, bassist and keyboardist John Paul Jones, and drummer John Bonham.
The sound
Page, fresh from the Yardbirds, built a band that fused blues, folk and raw electric power. Plant’s high, wailing vocals and Page’s riffs defined a template that countless bands, from Black Sabbath to Nirvana, would build on.
The albums
A run of records from Led Zeppelin I and II to Led Zeppelin IV (1971) and Physical Graffiti (1975) made them one of the biggest live and studio acts of the decade. “Whole Lotta Love”, “Kashmir”, “Black Dog” and “Immigrant Song” became classic-rock staples.
Stairway to Heaven
The untitled fourth album carried “Stairway to Heaven”, with its slow acoustic build and famous guitar solo, now among the most played and most analyzed songs in rock. The album has sold tens of millions of copies.
The end and legacy
When Bonham died in 1980, the surviving members chose to disband rather than carry on without him. They entered the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1995 and reunited for a one-off London concert in 2007, with Bonham’s son Jason on drums.
Most loved songs
A spread across the catalogue. Each title opens through the in-site player.
▶ Whole Lotta Love
▶ Kashmir
▶ Black Dog
▶ Immigrant Song
▶ Rock and Roll
▶ Ramble On
- Core membersJimmy Page, Robert Plant, John Paul Jones
- Formed1968, London
- GenresHard rock, blues rock
- Rock and Roll Hall of Fame1995
- Also known for“Stairway to Heaven”
From a slow acoustic build to a riff every guitarist tries first, the odds are good a Led Zeppelin song is lodged in your memory. Type the line you remember into the search box above and you may find it leads back to them.